Hello, it’s March, and we’re in Baltimore for AWP. But just because we’re in the city that brought us Double Dagger and Lungfish doesn’t mean we’re not keeping an eye on this month’s books. And so here’s this month’s list of book recommendations, encompassing everything from historical horrors to an insider’s guide to the Midwest.
Albertine Clarke, The Body Builders
(Mar. 3, Bloomsbury)
At what point does the idea of fitness and wellness take a shift into the surreal? This new novel by Albertine Clarke offers one perspective on that question. In a recent conversation with Debutiful, Albertine Clarke called Natalia Ginzburg’s The Dry Heart as a significant influence on The Body Builders — which is always encouraging to hear.
David Scott Hay, The Butcher of Nazareth
(Mar. 3, Headless/Whiskey Tit)
When we spoke with David Scott Hay last year, he discussed his then-forthcoming novel, a work of historical horror that draws on New Testament and apocalyptic imagery to tell the story of an obsessed man making his way across the Middle East over 2,000 years ago. His goal? Preventing the rise of Christianity. His methods? An escalating array of violence.
Jordy Rosenberg, Night Night Fawn
(Mar. 3, One World)
Jordy Rosenberg’s previous novel, Confessions of the Fox, was a favorite around these parts, and it set a very high bar for what its author would do next. Turns out the answer involves a dying woman sharing her thoughts on politics, family, and gender — all of which is rich territory for Rosenberg’s wide-ranging approach to fiction.
T Kira Madden, Whidbey
(Mar. 10, Mariner)
Whidbey, the novel from T Kira Madden, falls into an always-potent subgenre: a work of fiction structured around the death of a major character. That the character in question is someone who’s done great harm to the people around him complicates matters; throw in a memorable setting and we’re even more on board. And hey, there’s an excerpt up now at Electric Literature.
Joanna Margaret, The Daughters
(Mar. 17, The Mysterious Press)
Going back to Washington Irving, there’s a long history of uncanny stories set just north of New York City. Joanna Margaret’s new novel is a new entry in this category, exploring a spa town that’s home to a series of disappearances — and whose history includes witch trials. How does this all converge? The answer is contained within its pages.
Casey Scieszka, The Fountain
(Mar. 17, Harper)
Sometimes, the right blurb is all it takes to pique your interest. In related news, Emma Straub called Casey Scieszka’s The Fountain “Tuck Everlasting for grown-ups.” We’re here for it!
Kate Davis, Bring Cash: A Guide to Estate Sales in the Midwest and Beyond
(Mar. 24, Belt Publishing)
The subtitle of this one is a pretty solid guide to what readers will find inside: a detailed look at the ins and outs of estate sales. If you’re an enthusiast for vintage design or a good bargain, this looks to be essential reading.
Charlene Elsby, Poor Damned Souls
(Mar. 25, Merigold Independent)
What happens when a relationship’s flaws turn out to be covering up something much, much worse? That question sits at the center of Charlene Elsby’s new book, in which what appears to be infidelity turns out to a gateway to murder; cue the spiral into something even more nightmarish.
Laurie Hertzel, Ghosts of Fourth Street: My Family, a Death, and the Hills of Duluth
(Mar. 31, University of Minnesota Press)
You might know Laurie Hertzel from her work as a critic and editor, but she’s also written one acclaimed memoir about her early years as a journalist. Now, she’s returned with a second book, this one exploring a traumatic piece of family history from 1960s Duluth, and how that resonated across the decades.
Friedrich Torberg, Vengeance is Mine (translated by Stephanie Gorrell Ortega)
(Mar. 31, Boiler House Press)
The Austrian writer Friedrich Torberg left his country in 1938 for eminently understandable reasons. Upon his death in 1979, the New York Times referred to him as “one of Austria’s best known writers.” Now, one of his short novels is set to appear in English translation for the first time: Vengeance is Mine, a 1943 work that anticipated the Nazi horrors taking place across Europe.
Note: all cover art and release dates are subject to change.